East Africa faces deepening humanitarian crisis as drought and food insecurity escalate

A growing humanitarian emergency is unfolding across East Africa as severe water shortages and surging malnutrition rates push vulnerable families to the brink. The Red Cross reports that communities in the hardest-hit counties face grueling journeys to reach dwindling water sources, while the scale of need continues expanding beyond available resources.

Kenya stands among five nations experiencing a dramatic threefold increase in acute food insecurity, according to September's IGAD Regional Focus report. The affected population has soared from 13.9 million in 2016 to 41.7 million in 2025, driven by interconnected factors including conflict, economic instability, and climate extremes that erode resilience and reverse development progress.

Weather forecasts paint a grim picture for the coming months. IGAD's Climate Prediction and Applications Centre predicts drier-than-usual conditions across southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya, and much of Somalia—regions already suffering from below-average rainfall. Central and northern Somalia face particularly dire circumstances, with persistent drought threatening further deterioration.

The malnutrition crisis remains especially alarming for children. Across seven member states, 11.4 million children aged 6-59 months suffer from acute malnutrition, with 3.1 million requiring urgent lifesaving treatment for severe cases. Humanitarian agencies urgently call for increased resources to address this escalating emergency.